HOW TO DISCOVER YOUR GIFTS
God is a God of variety, in the world and in His church. Each
Christian has been given several gifts of the Spirit which are
meant to build up other believers in the Body of Christ. As each
believer employs his gifts, the church is edified.

Although you may believe that you have been given one or more
gifts, actually knowing what it is - and using it - may be
harder.

How to go about discovering your spiritual capacities:

* List the gifts. Become informed about the many gifts in order
to recognize your own. You likely have more than one gift.
Don't overrate the nature of gifts by thinking of them as
something impressive when they may be quite ordinary. Instead
of flamboyant, grandstand abilities, they may be silent,
steady workings of the Holy Spirit.

* Go to work. The Holy Spirit grants gifts to every child of
God. The extent to which the divine design is fulfilled
depends on your faithfulness. Therefore, you should go to
work immediately. Expose yourself to various kinds of
Christian service, perhaps first in the area of natural
abilities. Don't give up if you have some early failures. Be
willing to try something new, that you previously thought you
couldn't do.

* Note your inclinations. If you are drawn toward a certain
area of service, your desire may point to the existence of
that gift. To a degree, gifts shape your future. With God,
your desire, gift, and calling are related. A gift usually
will be preceded by desire and followed by opportunity to use
it. Caution: the desire for a gift does not guarantee it.
Final assignment belongs to God.

* Commit. If you have progressed to this point, it may be time
to dedicate yourself and these potential gifts to the Lord.
Consciously place your gifts in the Lord's service,
expressing willingness to obey Him with your spiritual
capacities.

* Develop your gifts. The existence of a gift is a call to
exercise it. Gifts have been likened to seeds which start
small and bloom with proper care. Cultivation of a gift may
mean formal training, or being mentored by another person
accomplished in the gift.

* Delight. When you find your gift(s), there will be joy. This
is what I'd rather be doing for the Lord than anything else
in the world. This is my thing. This turns me on. Your joy is
subconsciously communicated to the recipients of your
ministry.

* Let others discern. Because delight has subjective elements,
submit your "eureka" feeling to the scrutiny of loving and
discerning brethren. The confirmation that you do possess a
gift is recognition of this gift by others.

* Gifts of the Spirit include: Speaking gifts: Apostolic gift,
prophecy, evangelism, shepherding, teaching, exhortation,
knowledge, and wisdom; Serving gifts: helps, hospitality,
giving, government, showing mercy, faith, and discernment;
Signifying gifts: miracles, healing, tongues, and
interpretation. There will always be debate on the actual
number of gifts. There are several lists in the Bible, and
each differ somewhat.